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Technological Monuments
The Bratislava-Trnava Horse-drawn Railway
Catalogue Number:  104
Stamp Design:  Martin Činovský
Stamp Engraving:  Martin Činovský
Date of Issue:  October 15, 1996
Printing:  Postal Stationery Printing House, Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Print Technology:  Rotary-recess printing combined with recess printing
Print Run:  1,246,000
FDC Design:  Martin Činovský
FDC Engraving:  Martin Činovský
Cancellation Design:  Martin Činovský
FDC Printing:  Postal Stationery Printing House, Prague, Czech Republic
FDC Print Technology:  Recess printing from flat plates
FDC Print Run:  10,000

In the line connecting the city to Trnava, Bratislava boasts the first horse-drawn railway (forerunner of the modern railway) to be built in the former Hungarian Monarchy. For the ceremonial opening run a train was pulled from Bratislava to Svätý Jur on September 27th, 1840. The first train drew into Trnava (following construction of the line in its entirety) on June 1st, 1846, after three hours and six changes of horses. The station building in Bratislava here depicted is the oldest railway station in the former Hungarian Monarchy to be preserved in its original state. In the background of the stamp is also depicted the original Trnava station building. Passenger trains initially had two carriages, while freight trains had five cars, each with a load of up to 6 tons. The train was pulled by two horses, and fifty-five of the animals were made ready for each journey. Even at the time of the line's construction the engineer, Hieronymi, already envisaged its conversion to steam, and this took place following the phasing out of horse-drawn operation between October 10th, 1872 and May 1st, 1873.


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Year 1996
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